Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Singularity University; Datawatch

I'm (very probably) going to be giving a speech at Singularity University on August 3rd. Not clear where this is in San Francisco, but I'll find out -- probably won't have time to socialize in any case. 21st Century Biotechnology. It looks like this might be the start of a longer relationship with them, which would be interesting.

In the case of many hackers, such as those dealing in stolen financial information, chats will take place in private, with new members coming into the group only if they know an existing member. However, in the cases of Anonymous and LulzSec, some of their chatrooms are public. The FBI has set up shop in numerous social media sites, going undercover where necessary to root out hackers and other online criminals, and it would not be surprising if they were actively monitoring IRC channels in this case.

~~~~~

Interesting times. The lulzsec/anonymous crowd is playing for money now -- I hope they know what they're doing. I'm sure some of them do, but not all of them. The problem with groups like these is that any break in pure anonymity is lethal -- you can't trust anyone. People you know well and trust are the biggest threat -- a drill bit on the knee will make almost anyone talk.

The problem with groups like Anonymous and LulzSec is they believe that since the only government groups they've come into contact with are grossly incompetent, all government groups are grossly incompetent.

The further up the ladder these jokers go, the closer they get to Mohammed Vance. And these clowns aren't even bright enough to know this.

Yeah. At the very top of state security establishments in rich countries you find people with the warmth and cuddliness of your average Mafia hitman, coupled with really frightening degrees of skill and commitment. Mohammed Vance is not bad shorthand.

And the real problem, to my view at least, is that once you engage the Mohammed Vances of the world, the whole weight of some really nasty people and powers comes down upon you and your family, with potentially life destroying consequences. It seems like a game until you brush up against the very real state security powers that can make you, and anyone who knows you, pay forever.